Gomti is frothing due to pollutants

Lucknow: After rivers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, now the Gomti river in Lucknow is frothing downstream owing to the presence of high pollutants.

The white froth is seen downstream and is affecting its the flora and fauna. The irrigation department spokesman said that due to the discharge from 29 big city into the Gomti, the froth has increased. In the past three days, the rainwater mixed with sludge has worsened the situation.

“The energy dissipaters that check the flow of the water during floods in the rubber dam, are reducing the speed of flow thereby creating friction between sludge and water causing froth formation”, the spokesman added.

Scientists, however, claim that froth formation is a clear indication that dissolved oxygen in the river has dropped significantly and will have an adverse impact on aquatic life.

Scientist Venkatesh Dutta said, “Jal Nigam normally opens gates of the drains during monsoons to allow excess water to flow into Gomti, else it would outflow in other parts of the city. But this should not be done. The sludge should be channelized to a treatment plant but most sludge falls directly into downstream of Gomti.”